Challenge Cup: final is Lindemans Aalst – Allianz Milano! Bratislava and Altekma eliminated in semifinals

After a 1-3 (21:25, 23:25, 25:16, 26:28) win in Türkiye, Italy’s Allianz Milano to 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup final!
The players around head coach Roberto Piazza, won 3-0 in first leg in front of their home fans, will compete in the competition’s final for second time in club’s history!
Veikka Lindqvist earned MVP honors after scoring 16 points and leaving the court as top scorers.
In Final, Milano will face Belgium’s Lindemans Aalst who, after winning first leg in Slovakia at tie break, played another marathon yesterday against VK Slovan Bratislava, winning only at tie break, 3-2 (25:20, 25:19, 22:25, 15:25, 15:13).
The hosts, coached by Frank Depestele, won first two sets but then struggled to send ko the rivals, able to level the score 2-2, until falling at tie break with the minimum gap.
Camden Gianni played another great game for the winners scoring 22 points including 6 aces and 3 blocks, after putting down 32 points and 9 aces in first leg, while setter Nicholas Slight also contributed with 5 blocks and canadian opposite Enrique Rempel, top scorer of this edition of Challenge Cup with 157 points in 34 sets played, tallied 18 and 3 blocks.
First Leg of Final is in Belgium on March, 25, while second leg in Italy on Wednesday, April 1.

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup | Semifinals

FIRST LEG

Wednesday March 4, 2026
📍Sport Hall Gopass Arena Bratislava
• 19.00 (Local Time) | VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) – Lindemans Aalst (BEL) 2-3 (11:25, 44:42, 29:31, 25:14, 13:15)
📍Allianz Cloud Milano
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano (ITA) – Altekma SK Izmir (TUR) 3-0 (25:21, 32:30, 25:18)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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SECOND LEG

Wednesday March 11, 2026
📍Sportcentrum Schotte Aalst
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Lindemans Aalst (BEL) – VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) 3-2 (25:20, 25:19, 22:25, 15:25, 15:13)

Thursday March 12, 2026
📍Atatürk Voleybol Salonu Izmir
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Altekma SK Izmir (TUR) – Allianz Milano (ITA) 1-3 (21:25, 23:25, 25:16, 26:28)

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